What is the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act?

Beginning April 2, 2020 until December 31, 2020, this new federal law applies to any employer engaged in commerce or in any industry affecting commerce that employs fewer than 500 employees. Any person regarded as an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act may use paid sick leave under the new law for any of the following reasons:

1. the employee is subject to a Federal, State or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. the employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
3. the employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. the employee is caring for an individual who is subject to an order as described in paragraph 1 above or has been advised as described in paragraph 2 above;
5. the employee is caring for a son or daughter if their school or place of care has been closed, or the childcare provider of the son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID-19 precautions;
6. the employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of HHS in consultation with the Secretaries of Treasury and Labor.